Scale.



N0. 628,572. Patented July-II, |899.

2C. L. BELL.

SCALE.

n (Application led Apr. 29, 1898.) y (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

No. 628,572. Panama July n, m99. c. L. BELL.

scALE.

(Application Bled Apr. 29, 1898.8

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

THE Nonms PETERS co. PHoroLlTHo., WASHINGTON. o. c4

Vloadedreceptacle is placed upon the platform UNITED STATES f PATENT OFFICE.

(,IIESTER LVBLL, OFA ELIPASO, TEXAS.

SCALE.

STECIFICATION forming par@ of 'Letters Patent No. 628,572, dated July 11, 1899.

Application tutti April ze, lees.

k 13e it known that I, CHESTER L. BELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at El Paso, in the county of El Paso and State of Texas', have in venteda new and useful Scale,of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to scales, and has for its object to provide a simple and improved multiple scale adapted to facilitate the weighing of widely-varying quantities with the same machine without the necessity of adjusting the counterpoises or without the substitution of counterpoises of different weights, a scale of the class to which my invention belongs being particularly adapted for use as trackscales. y

A further object of the invention is to provide,in connection with interdependent scalebeams, an improved construction of tarebeam and connections adapted'for weighing empty Vessels, vehicles, ears, &cprior to the weighing of the contents thereof, the arrangement of the parts being such that when the of the scale the scale-beams indicate the exact weight of the contents without the necessity of deducting the tare. f

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a scale having weighing-beams constructed and connected in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation', partly broken away, of the weighing-beams, showing poiscs of different weights. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing weighing-poises of equal weights. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the connections between the platform-lever and the scale-beam-operating rods.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the iigu res ofthe drawings.

Mounted in asuitable frame and supporting a platform 1 is a platform-lever 2, connected by a rod 3 with a tare-beam 4, fulcrumedby suitable knife-edge pivots 5 upon a standard 6 and arranged with its free end in a guide 7. Said tare-beam carries a weighing-poise 8, adapted for adjustment parallel numerals 22, 28, and 24 anc Serial No. 679,199. (No model.)

with the beam to register with the several grad nations thereof, whichin practice may be arranged to indicate any desired weights from an ounce upward. Said tare-beam is also provided with an adjustable counterpoise il, and the connecting-rod 3 between the platformlever and the tare-beam is preferablyv sectional, with an interposed lever 10 of the second order, whereby the motion of the beam is reduced in proportion to that of the platform-lever.

In connection with the above-described mechanism I employ a series of weighingbeams 11, 12, and 13, it being understood that while only three beams are illustrated in the drawings a greater or less number may be employed, according to the desired capacity of the apparatus. rlhese weighing-beams are of different; denominations, that of lowest denomination being -the uppermost or that which is most remote from the point of application of weight through the steelyard-rod 14,

f this weight-rod being in connection with the beam of highest denomination. These weighin g-beams are fulcrumed, respectively, at 11a, 12, and 13, and upon each of them is mounted for adjustment a weighing-poise, which are respectively designated as 15, 1G, and 17, and mounted upon the heel o'f each weighingbeam is a counterpoise similar to that which is employed upon the tare-beam and which are respectively designated by the numerals 19,r 20, and 2l.-A Also each weighing-beam operates in aguide between' fixed terminal stops, the guides of the uppermost, intermediate, and lowermost beams beinfr designated bythe lthe upward movement of each beam being limited in order to secure a certain cooperation between the weighing beams. This cooperation is attained by a system of connections between the weighingbeams, whereby each remainsv at rest until the weighing-beam of nextlower denomination has reached the limito'fits upward movement, all of the weighing-beamsv having an approximately equal extent of movement. In the construction illustrated the steelyard-rod 14 is suspended upon a con- IOO of the pivotal point of the beam. The other end of said connecting-lever is connected by a link 27 with a second connecting-lever 2S at an intermediate point, said second connecting-lever being` suspended at one end from the scale-beam of next lower denomination by a link 29 and having connection by a link 30 with an intermediate point of a third connecting-lever 3l. This third connecting-lever is suspended at one end from the heel of the scale-beam of next lower. denomination (or in this instance from the scale-beam of lowest denomination) by means of a link and is fulcrumed at its opposite end toa iixed object, such as the trame or casing of the scalemechanism. Obviously with a greater number ot scale-beams than t-hat illustrated in the drawings this system of connections, consisting of levers and links, could be extended proportionately, one end of the uppermost lever only being fulcrumed upon a iixed object, such as the casing of the scale apparatus.

lnasmuch as the connection between each scale-beam and the next of lower dnomination is by means of a lever to which the downward strain ot a weight' supported by the scale-platform is applied at an intermediate point, preferably contiguousto its center, it will be seen that a weight placed upon the scale-platform will tirst at't'ect the uppermost scale-beam or that of lowest denomination, and as each of the connecting-levers is of the third order, whereby the increase due to the use of the lever is in motion instead of in power, it is obvious that a very slight movement of the platform-lever will be multiplied and produce an amplified movement of the uppermost weighing-beam. lt the weight applied to the platform-lever is sufficient to carry the weighing-beam of lowest denomination to the limit ot' its upward movement, the point of connection ot the link with the heel of said lever of lowest denomination becomes iixed, thus securing both ends ofthe lever .51,wl1ereuponanyturther or additional weight on the platform-lever will cause a swinging movement of the intermediate or connecting lever 28. This depresses the heel ot' the intermediate weighing-beam, and if this motion is continued until the said intermediate weighing-beam reaches the limit of its movement the point of connection ofthe link 2O to the heel of the intermediate scalebeam becomes lixed, thus securingA both extremities of the lever 2S and bringing the intermediate or connecting lever 25 into operation, which in turn tends to depress the heel of the lowermost weighing-beam or that of highest denomination. ln this way the several weighing-bea ms are brought successively into operation, beginning with the weighingbeam of lowest denomination and proceeding consecutively through the series, irrespective ot the number which may be employed, until that of highest denomination is reached. In other words, the scale-beam ot' lowest denomi nation is operated from the platform-lever through series of connections, and the motion is amplified to insure a visible motion of said beam of lowest denomination without an excessive movement of the platform, and during this movementof the scale-beam of lowest denomination those ends ofthe intermediate or connecting levers E25 and 2S which are connected, respectively, with the scale-beams of intermediate and highest denomination remain fixed by reason of the weighing-poises thereon. Therefore all of the motion communicated by the rod ll to the lowest connecting-lever is in turn communicated to the next lever, and so on to that which is in connection with the scale-beam of lowest denomination. lt the weight upon the platform comes within the range ot' the beam of lowest denomination, the weight maybe ascertained as in the ordinary practice. lt the weight which has been applied to the platform exceeds that which can be weighed upon the scale-beam of lowest denomination, the latter is moved to the limit of the guide in which its free end is fitted, and motion is in turn communicated to the weighing-beam of next higher denomination. lt the weight on the platform comes within the range ot' said second scale-beam, the weighing proceeds upon said second beam', as in the ordinarypractice. lf, on the other hand, the weight which is applied to the platform exceeds the capacity of the second scale-beam, the latter is moved to the limit of the guidein which its free end is fitted, and motion is then communicated to the scale-beam of next higher denomination, and so on, according to the number et weighing-beams in the series.

With a construction suoli as that above described the operation is as follows: lVhen it is desired to weigh an empty vessel or receptacle-such as a vehicle, car, hef-it is placed upon the platform and the weighing-poise upon the tare-beam is adjusted to balance the same. After the receptacle has been iilled and is again placed upon the platform, the weighing-poise upon the tare-beam remaining as before adjusted and the weighing-poises on the weighing-beams being located at the outer extremities thereof, the operator, il.' neither of the weighing-beams is attected by the additional weight, moves the weighingpoise ot the beam of lowest denomination inwardlyor toward its fulcrum until a balance is ei'ected,whereu pon the registering grad uation of the weighing-beam ot' lowest denomination will indicate the weight of the contents of the receptacle without the mental deduction necessary to distinguish the weight of the contents from the combined weight ot' the receptacle and contents. lt, on the other hand, the weight of the receptacle and con'- tents is suiiicient to raise the beam ot lowest denomination to the limit of its movement without alt'ecting the beam of next higher denomination, the weighing-poise of said beam ot next higher denomination is moved in- IOO wardly until a balance is effected, and the weight of the contents of the receptacle will be indicated upon said beam of higher denomination. In the same way a weight applied to the platform which is sufficient to raise all of the beams except that of highest denomination will indicate that the weight y comes within the scope of said beam of highest denomination, and hence the weighingpoise of the lowest beam should be adjusted inwardly until the proper balanceis secured.

Various systems of marking the scale-beams may be adopted, and the weighing-poises may be of either equal or different weights to suit the desired capacity of the apparatus. In the construction illustrated in Fig. 3 the poises are of equal weight, and assuming that the scope of the beam of lowestdenomination is one hundred pounds it will be seen that any weight coming within the scope of this scalebeam may be weighed thereon by the proper adjustment of the weighing-poise. If the weight of the object exceeds one hundred pounds, the poise on the beam of lowest denomination being at the outer extremity thereof or at the 10077 mark, the scope of the beam of next higher denomination will be from one hundred to three hundred pounds owing to the fact that the connecting-levers of the third order cause each scale-beam to weigh twice as much for the same adjustment of the weighing-poise as the beam of next lower denomination. In other words, the connecting-levers of the third order increase the extent of the motion, but obviously reduce the application of pressure or weight. Therefore in said Fig. 2 the graduations of the second scale-beam range from 100 to 300.- This same principle being followed out in connection with the third scale-beam and the graduations thereof beginning where the graduations of the beam of next lower denomination terminate, it will be seen that the graduations on the beam of next higherdenomination will range from 300 to 900. Thus with weighing-poises of equal weight the capacity or scope of each weighin gbcam is a multiple of that of the scale-beam of next lower denomination, and by making the connection between the suspending-links 27 and 30 with the connecting-levers practically at the centers of said connecting-levers (making, of course, due allowance for the varyin g distances between the points of con nection of the links 26 and 29 with their respective scale-beams) the capacity of each scalebeam is just twice that of the scale-beam of next lower denomination; but it will be understood that this proportion or relation between the capacities of the scale-beams may be varied by suit-ably varying the points of connection of the saidlinks 27 and 29 with the respective levers.

The capacity of the several scale-beams, however, may be proportionately varied by varying the weights of the weighing-poises. For instance, by making the weighing-poise of 'each weighing-beam of twice the weight of the weighing-poise upon the beam of next lower denomination, as indicated in Fig. 2, the capacity of the intermediate weighingbeam (which is doubled by reason of the connections and is again doubled by reason of the weighing-poise being of double the weight of that of the scale-beam of lowest denomination) is four times that of the scale-beam of lowest denomination, whereby, assuming that the range of graduations of the uppermost scale-beam is from 07 to 100, the range of graduations of the next scale-beam of higher denomination is from 100 to 500. Obviously, following the same proportion in connection with the next weighing-beam, (or that of highest denominatiom) by making its weighing-poise twice that of the scale-beam of 4next lower denomination the capacity of the lowermost scale-beam will be indicated by its graduations as ranging from 500 to 2500.

Vith a scale constructed for far heavier weights, such as those used for cars, it will be seen that by adapting the scale-beam of lowest denomination to weigh from twentytive to ten thousand the use of the successively-increased weighing-poises will adapt the second scale-beam to weigh from ten thousand to fifty thousand and the next beam of higher denomination from fifty thousand to two hundred and fifty thousand.

An important feature of the construction described resides in the fact that the operation of the tare-beam is practically independent of that of the weighing-beams in that the platform-lever has a slight movement independently of the connecting-rod 14, owing to a slight looseness of the connection between said lever and the connecting-rod, while the least motion of the platform-lever is communicated to the tare-beam. Hence the weight of a receptacle can be ascertained without affecting` the main weighing-beams, and therefore in weighing a loaded receptacle the element-of the weight of the receptacle itself may be entirely ignored, as the weighingbeams will indicate only the weight of the contents, due allowance being made by means of the tare-beam for the weight of the receptacle in accordance with the adjustment of the poise on the tare-beam prior to the loading of the receptacle. Furthermore, it will be seen that the connection between the platform-le ver and the tare-beam,which includes a lever of the second order, is a motion-reducing connection in that the mot-ion which is imparted to the lever at its free end is communicated to the tare-beam from an intermediate point, and hence through a distance which is less than that through which the end of the lever moves. On the other hand, the connections between the platform-lever and the weighing-beams are of motion-increasing effect in that motion is imparted thereto at intermediate points and is communicated thereby from their extremities. Thus in the IOO ICS

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operation of the scale the motion is communicated from the platform-lever through motion-reducing connections to the tare-beam, whereby the latter moves through a relatively small arc,while the connections between the platform-lever and the weighin g-bea ms serve to multiply or increase the motion, whereby the weighing-beams operate through relatively-greater intervals, and therefore after the initial operation ot the tare-beam the weighing-beams maybe successively brought into operation to weigh the contents of the receptacle or vehicle without interference by the tare-beam and connections with the operation of said weighing-beams.

in order to insure accuracy in weighing, l construct the weigliing-i 3oises with terminal slides or bearing-keepers 33, between which and parallel with the scale-beam is arranged a graduated fractional bar 3l, designed to indicate the fractional parts of the graduations formed upon the beam traversed bythe poise, and upon this fractional bar is mounted an auxiliary poise 35, adjustable independently of the main poise and adapted for movement in either direction from an intermediate point of the fractional bar to indicate fractional )arts of the amounts designated by the graduations of the scale-beam. For instance, it the gradnations of the scale-beam indicate one hundred pounds each the fractional bar may be graduated to designate ten pounds each orone pound each.

In Fig. 3 l have shown double or multiple poises as being` adapted to attain the necessary accuracy in weighing without the close graduation of the scale-beam; but it will be understood that scales which do not range in capacity from nine hundred pounds and others which are adapted for counter use, ttc., may be provided with the ordinary ball-poises, as will be readily understood by those conversant with the art to which my invention belongs.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described `my invention, what l claim is l. Inaweighing-scale,the combination with a platform-lever, of a tare-beam having an adjustable poise, a weighing-beam also having an adjustable poise, a motion-communicating connection between the platform-lever and the tare-beam, and an independent motioncommunicating connection between the platform-lever and t-he weighing-beam, whereby the platform-lever may impart differential throws to said beams, substantially as specilied.

2. In a weighingscale,the combination with a platform-lever, of a tare-bea m provided with an adjustable poise, a weighing-beam also provided with an adjustable poise, and independent connections between the piattormlever and said beams for communicating the motion ot' the lever successively to the tarebeain andthe weighing-beam, the connections of the tare-beam including a leverol the second order, substantially as spcciiied.

In a weighing-scale, the combination of a series et weighing-beams provided with independent weighing-poises, means tor limiting the weighing movements of said beams, and a series of connections between the weighing-beams Jfor communicating motion from one beam to the next, successively, said connections including levers of the third order, to one of which is connected the scale or platform rod, substantially as speeilied.

i. ln a weighing-scale, a series of weigh'- ing-beams provided with independent poises, stops for limiting the weighing movements, respectively, ot said beams for communicating motion from one beam to the next, successively, said connections, and connections between the beams consisting ot levers ot the third order, one end ot each of which is suspended from a weighing-beam, and means for connecting the other ends of the levers ot higher denomination with intermediate points of the next levers of lower denomination, the weight or platform-rod being connectcd with the lever oi' highest denomination, substantially as specified.

5. in a weighing-scale, the combination of weighing-beams provided with independent weighing-poises, connecting-levers of the third order, each ot' which is connected at one end with the heel of one of the weighingbeams, the other end of each lever of higher denomination being connected with an intermediate point of the lever of next lower denomination, the lever of lowest denomination having a iixed terminal fulcrum, and means for applying weight to an intermediate point of the lever of highestdenomination, substantially as specified.

G. ln a weighing-scale,the combination with weighing beams, connections between the heels ot thc weighing-beams, including levers of the third order, and connections between each lever of higher denomination and the next of lower denominatiomthe weight or platform-rod being connected with the lever of highest denomination, and adjustable poises mounted respectively upon the weighingbeams, and each having an auxiliary poise adjustable parallel with the beam, substantially as specified.

7. ln a weighing-scale, the combination of a series ot' weighing-beams et ditl'erent denominations provided with independent weighing-poises, means torlimiting the weighing movements of said beams, and a series of connections for communicating motion successively to b'eams of lower and higher denomination, the weight or platform-rod being applied to the connection of highest denomination, and each connection becoming operative to communicate motion as the beam of lower denomination is cheeked at the limit of IOO IOS

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i o the lever of highest denomination, and poises mounted respectively upon the Weighingbeams, substantially as speeiied.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto axed my signature in the presence of two witnessesn CHESTER L. BELL.

"Witnesses:

W. S. SMALLvvooD, J os. N. SWEENEY. 

